PHOENIX — On Saturday, sources told the Daily Planet that Superman was spotted flying in Phoenix.
Indeed, at U.S. Airways Center, Dwight David Howard entered a phone booth and came out as Superman. He then dunked on a basket a foot higher than a regulation hoop — red cape flopping from his back — and later soared from the baseline, grabbing a ball off the side of the basket for a one-handed windmill dunk, a seemingly superhuman accomplishment.
But then, just when it seemed he was invincible, Superman encountered Krypto-Nate.
Yes, the Knicks’ Nate Robinson won Saturday’s NBA dunk competition, complementing his new nickname with a green jersey and sneakers, and unleashing a dunk over the 6-foot-11 Howard, a showstopper during a show of showstoppers.
“I just thank God for the ability to be able to jump,” Robinson said. “It’s pretty cool.”
Robinson received 52 percent of the fans’ votes to win the final round against the Magic’s Howard. The Nuggets’ J.R. Smith finished third and Portland’s Rudy Fernandez was last.
After a 43-point windmill dunk in the first round, Smith utilized teammate Sonny Weems for the second — more action than Weems gets in Denver games. Weems took the ball a few rows into the stands and launched the longest alley-oop in contest history, a lob that bounced in the lane and which Smith grabbed in mid-air and slammed viciously with two hands. That dunk got him 42 points, but not enough to send him to the finals. (Incidentally, the assist doubled Weems’ career total, but give Weems credit for coming up with the dunk idea).
Smith originally planned a different dunk, but couldn’t make it as the clock was ticking.
“If I had made it, I probably would have got a 50,” he said. “I was supposed to catch it in mid-air, put it behind my back and dunk.”
An old friend.
Former Colorado State women’s basketball star Becky Hammon participated in the shooting stars competition for the San Antonio team (she plays for the SilverStars of the WNBA), along with Tim Duncan and David Robinson.
The 31-year-old plays in Russia during the WNBA offseason. As for the SilverStars: “We had a good season last year, but the league keeps getting better and better,” she said. “But hopefully, we’ll get in the mix.”
High honor.
The NBA announced that the Finals MVP trophy will now be named after Bill Russell, the legendary Boston Celtic who won 11 titles as a player.
“Bill inspired a generation not just of basketball fans but Americans everywhere,” NBA commissioner David Stern said. “He is respected by colleagues, coaches, (and) fans and his legacy clearly has stood the test of time.”
Russell then told the media: “It is quite flattering, but I want to explain something to the folks here. This is only the second time I’ve been out in public since I got my hearing aids. And so, when I heard I was going to be with the guys from the press, I put them back in the drawer.” He then smiled.
New ‘do.
Former Nugget Allen Iverson got rid of his cornrows this week. “He looks like a rookie,” Smith said.
Benjamin Hochman, The Denver Post
